US988901A - Railway. - Google Patents

Description

T. J. SHBEHAN.

RAILWAY.

APPLIOATION FILED BBPT.12, 1910.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

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THOMAS J'. SHEEIIAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAILWAY.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

Application led September 12, 1910. Serial No. 581,503.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. SHEEHAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railways, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to improvements in railways and has for its object the provision of a railway the wheels of the rolling-stock and the rails of which are so constructed as to increase the tractive force at points of starting, stopping, or on grades.

A further object of my invention is to provide a railway which shall be simple of construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and efficient in operation.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

I am aware that tracks having a racktread have been employed and used in conjunction with toothed wheels precisely the same as an ordinary rack and pinion, but I wish to be clearly understood as distinguishing between devices of this construction and the construction I employ, as my track is designed to be used at points of starting, stopping, or on grades where sand is usually employed to produce friction or increase tractive force.

My invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

My invention will be more readily understood 4by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rail employed in my invention, Figs. 2 and 8 are front elevations of rails and wheels in contact therewith, and, Fig. 4 is an end elevation of an ordinary rail.

The preferred form of my invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises wheels 1 and 2, the former being the usual car wheel and the latter a specially formed engine or motor wheel. The latter wheel is provided with the usual tread and with an enlarged liange 3, the peripheral surface of which is cylindrical and knurled. At points of starting, stopping, and on grades, a knurled surface 4 is provided on the rail 5 to coperate with the knurled peripherical surface of the flange 3, said knurled surface 4 being formed on the top of the elevated side iange 6.

7 designates a standard rail, the side flange of which is somewhat lower than the knurled flange 6 as clearly drawn in Figs. 2 and 4. It is apparent that the regular wheel flange of the wheel 1 will not contact with the knurled surface 4 and that said wheel will travel in the usual manner on the rail 5 when the motor wheel 2 is elevated therefrom and traveling in the side iange 6. The end of the knurled surface 4 is slightly beveled 'to prevent sudden shock when the motor wheels engage therewith.

The operation is obvious, the motor or engine wheel being able to secure a grip upon the track sulicient to enable it to get a quick start without the use of sand and without in any way impairing or injuring either the wheels or the track. Should, however, it ever become expedient to use sand in connection with my rails, theknurled surface will so hold the sand as to cause a greater friction with the wheels by preventing the sand from belng brushed ofi' the track by the revolving of the wheels necessary in starting. In stopping also the construction of my track prevents the liability of slipping and sliding of the wheels after brakes have been applied, thereby enabling a train or car to be stopped 1n a much shorter space and in a much shorter time.

While I have shown what I deem to be the preferred form of my improved railway, I do not wish to be limited thereto, as there might be various changes and modifications made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts described without departing from my invention, hence I desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as will be comprehended Within the4 scope of the appended claim.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a railway, the combination with a wheel provided with the usual tread and having an enlarged integral flange provided with a knurled cylindrical periphery, of a rail havname to this specification in the presence of ing the usual tread and a knul-led integral tWo subscribing Witnesses.

Siderlan e arranfred to Contact With said v WheelfflaIg-ige andino elevate the usual Wheel THOMAS J' SHEEHAN tread abovev the usual rail tread, substanl VVitnesseL-i: v tially as described. Y JOSHUA R. H. POTTS,

In testimony whereof I have signed my ARTHUR A. OLSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

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